Patents by Inventor Seiji Hanafusa

Seiji Hanafusa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8567813
    Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag apparatus in which an increase in the number of component parts can be restrained. A motorcycle is a vehicle in which seat rails are included in a rear portion of a body frame with a rider seat having a front end portion upwardly inclined towards the front side of the vehicle that is mounted on the seat rails. An airbag module accommodating an airbag therein and fixed by an airbag mounting stay extending upwardly from the body frame and is disposed on the front side of the rider seat. A seat hook for holding the front end portion of the rider seat extends from the airbag module or from the airbag mounting stay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Hanafusa
  • Patent number: 8550491
    Abstract: An airbag device for straddle type vehicles is provided with: an airbag module in which a holding box that stores an airbag functions as a case; and an airbag control unit that controls said airbag module. The airbag module is provided with the holding box that is disposed immediately in front of a rider's seat, a lid that closes the opening of the holding box, and a hinge that functions as a rotary fulcrum for the lid when the airbag inflates, and that is positioned on the rear side, with respect to the vehicle, of the lid. A linking mechanism for restricting the opening angle of the lid is provided between the lid and the holding box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kuroe, Seiji Hanafusa, Keishi Yokota, Kazutaka Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8444175
    Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle, such as a motorcycle, equipped with an airbag module and an airbag control unit wherein the motorcycle is not increased in width. The motorcycle includes a body frame extending rearwardly from a head pipe with a rider's seat provided on the body frame and on which a rider or riders are to be seated. The airbag module is provided on the body frame and in which an airbag is accommodated. The airbag control unit is provided for controlling the deployment of the airbag. The airbag module is disposed on the front side of the rider seat with the airbag control unit being disposed between the head pipe and the airbag module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Hanafusa, Yoshiya Omuro
  • Patent number: 8424902
    Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag apparatus in which an increase in the number of component parts can be restrained. A motorcycle is a vehicle in which seat rails are included in a rear portion of a body frame with a rider seat having a front end portion upwardly inclined towards the front side of the vehicle that is mounted on the seat rails. An airbag module accommodating an airbag therein and fixed by an airbag mounting stay extending upwardly from the body frame and is disposed on the front side of the rider seat. A seat hook for holding the front end portion of the rider seat extends from the airbag module or from the airbag mounting stay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Hanafusa
  • Publication number: 20120280475
    Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag apparatus in which an increase in the number of component parts can be restrained. A motorcycle is a vehicle in which seat rails are included in a rear portion of a body frame with a rider seat having a front end portion upwardly inclined towards the front side of the vehicle that is mounted on the seat rails. An airbag module accommodating an airbag therein and fixed by an airbag mounting stay extending upwardly from the body frame and is disposed on the front side of the rider seat. A seat hook for holding the front end portion of the rider seat extends from the airbag module or from the airbag mounting stay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: Seiji HANAFUSA
  • Patent number: 8251268
    Abstract: A front carrier includes an outer frame pipe surrounding the periphery, and a cross pipe and a back-and-forth member which are provided inside the outer frame pipe. A front side portion of the outer frame pipe is lowered at a one-step to form a stepped bottom portion. The back-and-forth member is disposed to extend obliquely downwardly from the cross pipe toward the stepped bottom portion. In addition, the widthwise inside portion of the rear side portion is bent to be forward to form an end side portion, which is joined to the cross pipe to be flush with the back-and-forth member. Thus, a cargo support surface formed by the cross pipe, the back-and-forth member and the end side portion is surrounded by an outer frame portion higher at a one-step than the cargo support. Part of the outer frame portion is allowed to serve as a cargo stopper for the cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Hanafusa, Yuji Maki, Masahiro Inoue
  • Publication number: 20110309602
    Abstract: An airbag device for straddle type vehicles is provided with: an airbag module in which a holding box that stores an airbag functions as a case; and an airbag control unit that controls said airbag module. The airbag module is provided with the holding box that is disposed immediately in front of a rider's seat, a lid that closes the opening of the holding box, and a hinge that functions as a rotary fulcrum for the lid when the airbag inflates, and that is positioned on the rear side, with respect to the vehicle, of the lid. A linking mechanism for restricting the opening angle of the lid is provided between the lid and the holding box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Takeshi Kuroe, Seiji Hanafusa, Keishi Yokota, Kazutaka Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8042636
    Abstract: A water-cooled engine mounted on a vehicle wherein a mass concentration keeps the center of mass at a low position. In a saddle-ride type four-wheel vehicle, a radiator and a fuel tank are supported on lower frames, and are arranged, side by side, so as to be distributed respectively on the right-hand side and on the left-hand side so as to overlap each other when viewed from a side. In addition, the fuel tank and the radiator are disposed at the rear of a front suspension arm and at the rear of an engine. As a result, the concentration of mass and the keeping of the mass at a lower position are achieved. Moreover, the fuel tank and the radiator are allowed to stretch outwards beyond the upper frames. Consequently, the fuel tank can have a larger capacity and a ventilation path that leads to the radiator can be secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Hanafusa, Akihiro Yamashita, Takuya Yamada
  • Patent number: 7954835
    Abstract: A front wheel suspension structure for a saddle-type vehicle (all terrain vehicle) includes a double wishbone suspension system. The double wishbone suspension system includes a pair of right and left upper arms and a pair of right and left lower arms. The upper arm and the lower arm each include a front arm portion and a rear arm portion, respectively, and each of the upper arm and the lower arm is attached to a side of a body frame at two points. When viewed in a side view, the rear arm portion of the upper arm is located in front of the rear arm portion of the lower arm. A front shock absorber is arranged behind the rear arm portion of the upper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koshi Nakamura, Akio Handa, Seiji Hanafusa, Akihiro Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20100270778
    Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle, such as a motorcycle, equipped with an airbag module and an airbag control unit wherein the motorcycle is not increased in width. The motorcycle includes a body frame extending rearwardly from a head pipe with a rider's seat provided on the body frame and on which a rider or riders are to be seated. The airbag module is provided on the body frame and in which an airbag is accommodated. The airbag control unit is provided for controlling the deployment of the airbag. The airbag module is disposed on the front side of the rider seat with the airbag control unit being disposed between the head pipe and the airbag module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Seiji HANAFUSA, Yoshiya Omuro
  • Publication number: 20100270777
    Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag apparatus in which an increase in the number of component parts can be restrained. A motorcycle is a vehicle in which seat rails are included in a rear portion of a body frame with a rider seat having a front end portion upwardly inclined towards the front side of the vehicle that is mounted on the seat rails. An airbag module accommodating an airbag therein and fixed by an airbag mounting stay extending upwardly from the body frame and is disposed on the front side of the rider seat. A seat hook for holding the front end portion of the rider seat extends from the airbag module or from the airbag mounting stay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventor: Seiji HANAFUSA
  • Patent number: 7740100
    Abstract: A body cover being formed by joining together a plurality of cover members including a maintenance cover which is detachably disposed on the side of the power unit. A pedal which is actuated by an individual operating the vehicle wherein the overall body frame is covered without modifying the structure and arrangement of the pedal. A suspension system wherein a swing arm type or an independent suspension type may be used in the vehicle. A light structure for a tail light wherein attaching lighting components such as a light emitting section are attached to a substrate formed in part of a lid of a utility box attached to a rear part of a vehicle. The lighting components such as the substrate are directly assembled in the concave section, and a lens is attached to the concave section by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Takahashi, Kenzo Shimizu, Seiji Hanafusa, Takao Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7690730
    Abstract: A seat support structure for facilitating assembly of a frame support member. The seat support structure includes a seat support portion mounted on a seat rail of a vehicle, the seat support portion having an opening portion; a mount rubber having an engaging groove portion on an outer peripheral portion thereof, an insertion portion arranged closer to a distal end side than the engaging groove portion, and a through hole penetrating through the mount rubber. Upon mounting the seat, the insertion portion of the mount rubber is inserted into the opening portion of the seat support portion, the portion of the seat to be supported is inserted into the through hole, and the mount rubber is moved in the radial direction in an inside of the opening portion, and a portion of a groove wall of the engaging groove portion is brought into pressure contact with the opening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yasuda, Hideaki Suzuki, Seiji Hanafusa, Masahiro Inoue
  • Publication number: 20090243248
    Abstract: A front wheel suspension structure for a saddle-type vehicle (all terrain vehicle) includes a double wishbone suspension system. The double wishbone suspension system includes a pair of right and left upper arms and a pair of right and left lower arms. The upper arm and the lower arm each include a front arm portion and a rear arm portion, respectively, and each of the upper arm and the lower arm is attached to a side of a body frame at two points. When viewed in a side view, the rear arm portion of the upper arm is located in front of the rear arm portion of the lower arm. A front shock absorber is arranged behind the rear arm portion of the upper arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koshi Nakamura, Akio Handa, Seiji Hanafusa, Akihiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7434822
    Abstract: A frame structure provided for a body frame that can be used in common to vehicles with different types of rear suspensions. The frame structure includes a sub-frame assembly for an independent suspension type rear suspension that can be mounted to a body frame by using pivot brackets for supporting a swing arm provided in the body frame, and also using an upper mount for supporting a rear cushion provided in the body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Takahashi, Seiji Hanafusa
  • Publication number: 20080236918
    Abstract: A water-cooled engine mounted on a vehicle wherein a mass concentration keeps the center of mass at a low position. In a saddle-ride type four-wheel vehicle, a radiator and a fuel tank are supported on lower frames, and are arranged, side by side, so as to be distributed respectively on the right-hand side and on the left-hand side so as to overlap each other when viewed from a side. In addition, the fuel tank and the radiator are disposed at the rear of a front suspension arm and at the rear of an engine. As a result, the concentration of mass and the keeping of the mass at a lower position are achieved. Moreover, the fuel tank and the radiator are allowed to stretch outwards beyond the upper frames. Consequently, the fuel tank can have a larger capacity and a ventilation path that leads to the radiator can be secured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Seiji Hanafusa, Akihiro Yamashita, Takuya Yamada
  • Patent number: 7426788
    Abstract: In a saddle-type vehicle having at least three wheels, a tilt angle sensor layout structure is provided which ensures that a tilt angle sensor is minimally influenced by a centrifugal force or vibration of a vehicle body while the vehicle is turned, and the tilt angle sensor is protected against flying stones and the like. The vehicle includes an engine, and a fuel injection system for supplying fuel from a fuel tank to the engine, with a steering mechanism including a steering shaft provided on the front side of the vehicle body. A plurality of frame members constituting the vehicle body frame supporting the steering mechanism are connected in the shape of a frame loop in vehicle side view, and the tilt angle sensor for detecting the tilt angle in the left-right direction of the vehicle body is attached to the loop-shaped portion of the vehicle body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Hasegawa, Seiji Hanafusa
  • Patent number: 7370625
    Abstract: An engine accessory layout structure for a vehicle by which engine accessories are laid out near the engine without trouble. The structure includes a throttle valve disposed in the periphery of an engine, and an engine accessory laid out at an upper portion of an engine and a lower portion of a seat. A heat guard is provided which is disposed on the upper side of the engine so as to separate the engine and a fuel piping from each other. The engine accessory is mounted onto an upper portion of the heat guard. The heat guard also protects the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji Hanafusa
  • Publication number: 20070257535
    Abstract: A seat support structure for facilitating assembly of a frame support member. The seat support structure includes a seat support portion mounted on a seat rail of a vehicle, the seat support portion having an opening portion; a mount rubber having an engaging groove portion on an outer peripheral portion thereof, an insertion portion arranged closer to a distal end side than the engaging groove portion, and a through hole penetrating through the mount rubber. Upon mounting the seat, the insertion portion of the mount rubber is inserted into the opening portion of the seat support portion, the portion of the seat to be supported is inserted into the through hole, and the mount rubber is moved in the radial direction in an inside of the opening portion, and a portion of a groove wall of the engaging groove portion is brought into pressure contact with the opening portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yasuda, Hideaki Suzuki, Seiji Hanafusa, Masahiro Inoue
  • Publication number: 20070095324
    Abstract: To improve throttle response and productivity of an air cleaner of a vehicle. A vehicular air cleaner structure is provided, in which an air cleaner is mounted to a vehicle body frame and an intake duct for drawing air in the air cleaner and a connecting tube for providing communication between the air cleaner and the side of an engine are connected to the air cleaner. The intake duct and the connecting tube are connected to the air cleaner. A connection rubber capable of being flexed by a change in pressure in the air cleaner is disposed on a side wall as at least one of walls of the air cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Shinji Takahashi, Shinji Kawatani, Seiji Hanafusa